Department for Transport

Roads: Standards

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of local authority road are in a poor structural condition in (a) England outside London and (b) London.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport does not hold information on how many miles of local authority roads are in a poor structural condition in England or London.

Bus Services: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations to make audio-visual announcement systems a requirement on all new buses.

Andrew Jones: I understand the benefits that audio visual systems on buses can bring to passengers. There are a number of different potential solutions for achieving better audio visual information, not all of which will necessarily require on-bus equipment. Making on-board systems a requirement on all new buses would be a significant cost to the industry and I have no current plans to mandate such systems through Regulation.

Bus Services: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses in England outside London are fitted with audio-visual announcement systems (AV); and what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of AV on bus patronage.

Andrew Jones: We do not publish statistics on the number of buses in England which are fitted with audio visual systems. Analysis of data from the Nottingham City area did not suggest that AV equipment had a statistically significant impact on patronage.

Pedestrian Crossings

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of road crossings in England are (a) puffin and (b) pedex crossings.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport does not hold information on numbers or types of pedestrian crossings installed by local authorities.Provision of pedestrian crossings is the responsibility of local traffic authorities, who are not required to inform the Department when installing crossings. This includes decisions on location and type of crossing, which will take into account local factors such as road layout, traffic speed and volume, and pedestrian flow.The Department gives advice on assessing and designing pedestrian crossings in two Local Transport Notes (LTNs), LTN 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings and LTN 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings. These are available to download from:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport-notes.

Road Traffic

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that local highway agencies always give motorists sufficient and early notification of traffic delays, congestion and road accidents so that motorists approaching a black spot can use an alternative route; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are required through the Network Management Duty contained in the Traffic Management Act 2004 to do so in a way that provides safe, convenient and expeditious movement of traffic.Providing timely and relevant information to road users is an important part of this, and it is for local authorities to decide how to ensure they provide this. They have a range of measures available to them, including CCTV to monitor the road network and identify incidents, variable message signs to show messages indicating road closures and diversions, and information provided through their website and to local radio stations.

Taxis: Wheelchairs

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many local authorities permit taxi drivers to charge for carriage of a wheelchair; and how many local authorities specify in their licensing rules that such charges may not be levied.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport does not hold information regarding individual licensing authorities’ taxi tariffs or licensing rules.

Road Signs and Markings: Speed Limits

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to make greater use of flexible speed limits with electronic signs.

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the criteria are for authorising an average speed limit stretch of highway; what measures are in place to prevent an artificially low average speed limit being implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Average speed limits do not exist but Highways England uses variable speed limits on smart motorways to smooth traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety. The variable limits are set locally in response to traffic flow levels or to help manage incidents.The Department issued revised guidance in January 2013 aimed mainly at local traffic authorities who are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads. It includes guidance on the use of variable 20 mph speed limits with electronic signs. It has been designed to help explain to everyone why and how local speed limits are determined. This guidance was revised following full public consultation in Summer 2012 and is available online on GOV.UK

Department for Communities and Local Government

Utilities: Infrastructure

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what statutory obligations are placed on local authorities to have an accurate assessment of the (a) capacity, (b) location and (c) other aspects of local utility infrastructure.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local planning authorities should work with other authorities and providers to assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure, and its ability to meet forecast demands.

Local Government: Liverpool

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what date the £75 million Mayoral Investment Fund pledged as part of the Liverpool City Region Deal was paid to Liverpool City Council.

James Wharton: The Department for Communities and Local Government contributed £75 million in economic development funds as part of the Liverpool City Deal, with payments to Liverpool City Council on 30 April 2013 (£60 million) and 1 May 2014 (£15 million).

Local Government: Publicity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the activities of organisations and bodies fully funded by local authorities are subject to the conditions of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

Mr Marcus Jones: The code applies in relation to all decisions by local authorities relating to paid advertising and leaflet campaigns, publication of free newspapers and newssheets and maintenance of websites - including the hosting of material which is created by third parties.

Housing: Construction

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applications to buy public owned land for residential development made between 2009 and 2015 were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) developed as set out in those applications.

Brandon Lewis: As part of the Public Sector Land programme between April 2009 and March 2015, a total of 838 central Government-owned sites were sold. The Department does not hold information on the numbers of applications for sale or disposal of central government land, nor the build-out rates for individual sites.

Housing: Construction

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many sites granted planning permissions for residential development in each year from 2009 to 2015 were subsequently developed in accordance with the submitted plan.

Brandon Lewis: The Department does not currently hold information centrally on the build-out rate or compliance with permission for individual sites.

Housing: Construction

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many sites were available for residential development in each year from 2009 to 2015.

Brandon Lewis: The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of sites that are available for residential development. Local planning authorities are required to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of housing against their housing requirements.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the establishment of an independent, international and impartial body to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation and alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen. The UK fully and actively supports the UN’s efforts to achieve a political solution to bring an end to the conflict. I discussed the importance of progress with President Hadi of Yemen on 25 November. This will help create the conditions for the legitimate Government to improve its capacity to protect human rights.The UK has previously engaged the Yemeni Government - both bilaterally and through the UN Human Rights Council - on a wide range of human rights issues. We continue to raise the importance of compliance with international human rights law by all sides to the conflict. The UK welcomes the September UN Human Rights Council resolution which contains mechanisms for monitoring the human rights situation in Yemen.The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been tasked to help Yemen investigate human rights abuses and violations, but it will be up to Yemen to decide on how it sets up its own domestic mechanism. The UK welcomes Yemen's commitment to cooperate with the UN on the protection of human rights.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on supporting a new UN Security Council Resolution in the event that Resolution 2216 remains an obstacle to a negotiated peace in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We fully and actively support UN efforts in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2216. This remains the framework to achieving an immediate and lasting ceasefire and a mechanism for the withdrawal of forces, release of political prisoners, and the resumption of an inclusive political process. We encourage all parties to get behind the UN political process to achieving a lasting peace, and to enter any peace talks in good faith and with no pre-conditions. We welcome the announcement by the UN Special Envoy that these talks are forthcoming.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage Saudi Arabia and other parties to the conflict in Yemen to refrain from using explosive weapons with wide-range effects in populated areas in order to avoid high levels of civilian casualties.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen by all sides to the conflict and take these very seriously. This includes alleged airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. We have received repeated assurances from the Saudi Arabian-led coalition that they are complying with International Humanitarian Law, and we continue to engage with them on those assurances. The Saudi Arabian authorities have their own internal procedures for investigations and we encourage them to be open and transparent in this. We continue to urge all parties to the conflict to adhere to International Humanitarian Law. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis. We will continue to do this.

Burma: Foreign Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve diplomatic and economic ties with the new government in Burma.

Mr Hugo Swire: Burma’s constitution establishes a long delay between the election and the formation of a new government, which is due to take place in March 2016. The Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), called Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 10 November to offer continued political and economic support for the people of Burma. We will of course keep in close contact on a range of topics and look forward to working with whatever new administration emerges in March.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of success of the planned peace talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis in that country; and what steps the Government is taking to support agreement on an immediate ceasefire at those talks.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We welcome the commitment by President Hadi that the Government of Yemen will participate in UN negotiations, and the commitment by the Houthis, conveyed to UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, of their willingness to discuss Yemen’s return to sustainable peace and long-term stability. We encourage all parties to get behind the UN political process to achieving a lasting peace, and to enter peace talks in good faith and with no pre-conditions. We welcome the announcement by the UN Special Envoy that these talks are forthcoming. I discussed the importance of making progress in these talks with President Hadi on 25 November. We fully and actively support the UN’s efforts, in accordance with Security Council Resolution (SCR) 2216, which remains the framework to achieving lasting ceasefire and a mechanism for the withdrawal of forces, release of political prisoners and the resumption of an inclusive political process.

Israel: Human Rights

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has received representations from any representatives of the Israeli government to stop funding specified Israeli human rights NGOs.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As of 20 November 2015, neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or our Embassy in Tel Aviv have received any repesentations from the Israeli authorities asking the Government to stop funding specified Israeli human rights non-governmental organisations.

Islamic State

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take other than airstrikes to respond to the threat posed by ISIS.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron) said last week, the UK has a full spectrum approach to defeating ISIL – covering military power, counter-terrorism expertise and defeating its poisonous narrative.The UK is playing a leading role in the Global Coalition of 65 members, through which we are squeezing ISIL’s finances and the flow of fighters, challenging its ideology and stabilising liberated areas.The UK leads the effort to undermine ISIL’s narrative, co-chairing the Coalitions’ Strategic Communications Working Group and hosting the Coalition Communications Cell.

Jerusalem: Evictions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli government on the eviction of the Ghaith-Sub Laban family from their home in East Jerusalem.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are concerned about the imminent threat of eviction to the Ghaith-Sub Laban family and about the forcible displacement of protected persons. An official from our Consulate General in Jerusalem attended the court hearing on 31 May. Our Consul-General to Jerusalem raised this issue with the Mayor of Jerusalem on 28 October. Most recently our Consulate General in Jerusalem expressed our concern publicly on 18 November via Twitter, calling for the eviction to be halted.

Peacekeeping Operations: Overseas Aid

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the UK contributed to UN and African Union peacekeeping and stabilisation in low and middle income countries which (a) was not and (b) was classified as Official Development Assistance in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

James Duddridge: The UK’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping for low and middle income countries for Financial Year 2014/15 was £319.2m of non Official Development Assistance and £23.6m of Official Development Assistance funding; and for 2013/14 was £295.9m of non Official Development Assistance and £20.5m of Official Development Assistance funding. The UK does not make a direct contribution to the African Union. However, the annual UN Peacekeeping payments include a contribution and support to the United Nations Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Nepal: Borders

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the governments of India and Nepal regarding protests and disruption at border crossings between those countries.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 November 2015 (PQ 15614).In addition to this answer, I discussed the blockage at the border with the Indian Foreign Secretary during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United Kingdom.

Africa: Free Trade

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the African Union about steps to ensure that a Pan-African and Continental Free Trade Area will be introduced on schedule in 2017.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK supports the vision of an African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) as a key step to supporting African prosperity. We provide capacity building support to the African Union (AU) Commission to strengthen its ability to negotiate and implement trade agreements, including analysis to ensure the potential costs and benefits are fully understood. We will continue to work with the AU to ensure progress towards the CFTA is maintained, and I intend to raise this with AU colleagues at the January AU summit.

Asia: Diplomatic Service

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Diplomatic Service personnel were employed in Asia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: There were the following number of Diplomatic Service personnel in Asia:2015 - 419 (total FCO employees - 487)2014 - 437 (total FCO employees - 519)2013 - 479 (total FCO employees - 552)2012 - 471 (total FCO employees - 535)2011 - 460 (total FCO employees - 535)The reduction in Diplomatic Service personnel reflects the localisation of support grade roles, which are now filled by locally engaged staff.

Nepal: Human Rights

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of respect for human rights in Nepal.

Mr Hugo Swire: We note the milestone represented by the new Nepalese Constitution and welcome the adoption of 31 different rights, which include rights for women and Dalits. However, we are concerned about discrimination against women in the citizenship provisions and the violence which followed the adoption of the Constitution. We welcome progress on Nepal’s implementation of the recommendations made in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on transitional justice but remain concerned about amnesty provisions and the absence of legislation to criminalise torture.We issued a statement and a series of recommendations to this effect on 4 November 2015, at the 23rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/uk-statement-on-nepal-at-the-23rd-session-of-the-universal-periodic-review-geneva-2-to-13-november-2015

Attorney General

Domestic Violence and Rape: Convictions

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps the Crown Prosecution Service has taken to improve the conviction rate for rape and domestic violence.

Robert Buckland: The CPS has taken a number of steps to improve the conviction rate for rape and domestic violence cases. These include refocusing resources to strengthen Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Units, extensive training on rape for prosecutors, an update of the domestic abuse legal guidance and closer working with the police in rape cases including the provision of early investigative advice.

Military Intervention: Syria

Mike Kane: To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the information provided to Parliament on the legal basis for supporting coalition air strikes in Syria.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the Hon Member to the oral answer I gave to the Hon Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) earlier today.

Legal Profession: Voluntary Work

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Attorney General, what steps he has taken to promote pro bono work amongst members of the legal profession in the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General and I chair two co-ordinating committees that bring together leading organisations dedicated to promoting the delivery of pro bono legal services by members of the legal profession, in conjunction with the voluntary sector in England and Wales and internationally.Earlier this month, we took part in a range of events during National Pro Bono week, which is now regarded as an important annual national event and is supported by the legal professions, voluntary sector and law schools.Over the past 12 months, we have supported a number of projects borne out of the co-ordinating committees, that we believe reinforce how important the pro bono movement is – not just domestically, but internationally as well.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Apprentices: Primary Health Care

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to promote the development of healthcare assistants in primary care by means of apprenticeships.

Nick Boles: Provisional 2014/15 data show that there were 105,800 apprenticeships starts in the healthcare sector.We are committed to delivering employer-led apprenticeship reforms, and will continue working with employers, developing more high quality apprenticeships that are responsive to the needs of business.The Healthcare Trailblazer, supported by Skills for Health, NHS Trusts and private organisations, has published two new healthcare apprenticeship standards, and more are in development.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Lobbying

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will assess the extent to which grants made by his Department to third parties are used for activities designed to influence his Department, other departments or Parliament.

Joseph Johnson: Grants made by my Department and its partner organisations can only be used for lawful activities and for purposes which have been approved by Parliament – for example to promote business, research and innovation. Any unauthorised activities should not attract grant support.

Fireworks: Sales

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of additional regulation of the sale of fireworks.

Anna Soubry: Restrictions on the sale of fireworks already exist under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 and the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015. The majority of people have a sensible and responsible attitude to fireworks and, on balance, I do not believe that further restrictions on their sale would be necessary or proportionate.

M20: Large Goods Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 15540, what assistance his Department gave to (a) Kent County Council, (b) other operational organisations and (c) businesses to cover costs and losses during the implementation of Operation Stack in 2015.

Anna Soubry: My department provided no direct financial assistance to those organisations or to businesses to cover costs and losses during the implementation of Operation Stack in 2015.The Business Support Helpline was available to businesses seeking advice on managing disruption throughout.In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer committed £250 million into finding a long term solution to Operation Stack.

Small Businesses: Apprentices

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many small businesses have taken up the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers in each year that it has operated; and how many young apprentices have been taken on by businesses taking up that grant.

Nick Boles: The number of workplaces and the number of apprenticeship starts on the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) scheme are provided in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively. The eligibility for the scheme has changed over time, and it is not possible to identify “small” employers separately from all employers eligible for the scheme.Starts on AGE 16 to 24 are also published as part of a Statistical First Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-heldTable 1: Number of workplaces on the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers Scheme (2011/12 to 2014/15)Academic YearNumber of workplaces2011/126,6702012/1334,0202013/1446,6202014/1547,790Total135,100Notes:1) AGE 16 to 24 was launched in February 2012.2) Between 1st February 2012 and 31st July 2012, employers with up to 250 employees were eligible for AGE. Between 1st August 2012 and 31st January 2014, employers with up to 1000 employees were eligible for AGE. From 1st February 2015, employers with up to 50 employees are eligible for AGE.3) AGE 16 to 24 starts are defined through the Learning Delivery Funding and Monitoring Codes with values of 132 or 133 as per the ILR specification (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140108104635/http://www.theia.org.uk/ilr/ilrdocuments/201112_ilrdetail.htm). These are validated by the Skills Funding Agency.4) Volumes are rounded to the nearest ten except totals which are rounded to the nearest hundred.Table 2: Starts on the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers Scheme (AGE 16 to 24)Academic YearAgePayments MadePipeline Starts2011/12Under 194,900019-242,9500Total7,90002012/13Under 1926,520019-2416,0100Total42,50002013/14Under 1937,390019-2423,5100Total60,90002014/15Under 1932,9605,50019-2418,3003,180Total51,3008,700Notes:1) AGE 16 to 24 was launched in February 2012. Payments are drawn down once the new Apprentice has been in post for 13 weeks, therefore Apprenticeships starting after 30 April 2015 are not included in the Payments Made column because they had not yet triggered a payment.2) Pipeline Starts show those starting between May 2015 and July 2015 who have not yet qualified for a payment, but the payment would be made once the Apprentice has been in post for 13 weeks.3) AGE 16 to 24 starts are defined through the Learning Delivery Funding and Monitoring Codes with values of 132 or 133 as per the ILR specification (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140108104635/http://www.theia.org.uk/ilr/ilrdocuments/201112_ilrdetail.htm). These are validated by the Skills Funding Agency.4) Starts in this table include learners aged 19-24 on application but aged 25 when learning started.5) Volumes are rounded to the nearest ten except totals which are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Higher Education: Admissions

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the expected higher education initial participation rate for the 2015-16 academic year.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) publishes statistics on higher education initial participation rates in the annual Statistical First Release “Participation Rates in Higher Education”. The latest figures refer to the 2013-14 academic year and are available at the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-rates-in-higher-education-2006-to-2014BIS does not forecast higher education initial participation rates. UCAS has published early statistics on university admissions for the 2015-16 academic year, available at the link: https://www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/ucas-entry-year-acceptances-day28-2015.pdf

Foreign Investment in UK

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) foreign direct investment projects were developed in the UK which originated from other EU countries in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15, (b) jobs were created by those projects and (c) jobs were safeguarded by those projects.

Anna Soubry: Below is a breakdown of all successful foreign direct investment projects from EU countries in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 together with the estimated number of jobs created and safeguarded, as recorded by UK Trade & Investment.Number of Inward FDI Projects originating from EU recorded by UKTIProjectsNew JobsSafeguarded jobs2012-1348515,05334,8242013-1454119,93322,7122014-1563426,8456,076Source: UKTI FDI projects database.

Apprentices: Disability

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) disabled people aged (i) under 25 and (ii) under 30 who participated in apprenticeships and (b) apprenticeships undertaken by disabled people in each of those age groups in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Boles: Information on Apprenticeship participation by learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities, broken down by age, is published in supplementary tables (first link) to a Statistical First Release (second link).https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-equality-and-diversityhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held

Department for International Development

New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what conditions are placed on her Department's funding for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition; and whether such funding is (a) regularly reviewed and (b) preceded by local consultation in those countries that receive such funding.

Grant Shapps: In 2012, the UK made a £600m pledge to the New Alliance, consisting of projects in 6 founding member countries, which aim at improving incomes from agricultural production, and the food security and nutrition of smallholder farmers and the extreme poor. The objective of the pledge was to be more transparent about aid to agriculture and food security, in alignment with principles of aid effectiveness and the overall goal of the New Alliance. The £600m also included funding to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP, managed by the World Bank) and other international agriculture research and policy initiatives.Like every programme funded by DFID, projects pledged under the New Alliance are subject to annual reviews that are posted on the DFID Development Tracker website. At national level, governments lead an annual review of the progress of commitments, in consultation with development and private sector actors, which findings are made public on the New Alliance website.

Developing Countries: Nutrition

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to improve nutrition for women and children in lower middle income countries.

Grant Shapps: The UK Government has made a commitment to improve the nutrition of 50 million people by 2020, including in lower middle income countries. Those being helped includes children under five, breast feeding women, women of childbearing age and adolescent girls. This commitment builds on our previous 2010 commitment to reach 20 million children under five and pregnant and breast feeding women with nutrition programmes by 2015. By mid 2015 we had reached 28.6 million people.Further details can be found on Development Tracker: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/

Central African Republic: Children

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will introduce multi-year funding for child protection programmes in the Central African Republic.

Grant Shapps: Since 2013, DFID has committed £58 million to address the needs of Central Africans, Central African children and of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR). This funding has enabled agencies to support children who have been separated from their families, to provide services for girls and boys who have suffered sexual and gender-based violence, to reduce malnutrition, and give children access to education and training. DFID monitors needs in CAR and reviews regularly the strategy and level of support it provides. DFID are currently considering options for programming in CAR after the end of our current programme, which runs until March 2016.

Developing Countries: Food

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of agroecology on food production in the developing world; and if she will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: DFID supports a number of research programmes that assess the use of agroecology and sustainable intensification of agriculture, such as work with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa. Research shows that yields improvements are context-based and can vary significantly, according to local agroclimatic potential, effective productivity levels and farmers’ investment capacity.DFID believes agro ecological approaches have an important role to play in specific contexts, but does not prescribe technical approaches centrally. DFID supports a wide range of programmes with agro-ecological components, from soil and water conservation and land use management to climate resilience, conservation agriculture and agroforestry. These include, for example, The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), and Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED). The full range of our programmes can be found on our Development Tracker website.

Nepal: Humanitarian Aid

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what organisations her Department is working with to deliver humanitarian aid in Nepal.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is working with a range of partners to deliver humanitarian aid in Nepal. These include: a set of Prequalified NGO partners working with local partners that helped facilitate a rapid response in the aftermath of Earthquake; International Organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); and the multilateral system which includes the United Nations.

Indonesia: Forests

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid her Department is providing to Indonesia to assist with tackling forest fires.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK is providing technical support through a number of channels. For example, the UK Climate Change Unit in Indonesia has funded the World Resource Institute’s Global Forest and Fire Watch which provides free real-time information on fire spots, linking these data to land licensing and land type. In addition, the UK’s Forest Land-Use and Governance (FLAG) programme in Indonesia is funding longer-term fire prevention work through civil society, private sector and government, focusing on transparency, accountability and spatial planning to resolve the land governance issues that lead to fires.

Developing Countries: Overseas Aid

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will prioritise funding to multilateral agencies that focus their aid programmes and investments in Least Developed Countries.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We prioritise funding to multilateral agencies depending on how well they meet UK and international development objectives. The agencies that we fund are currently being assessed by our Multilateral Aid Review which will report in the spring.

British Overseas Territories: Companies

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with Foreign Office Ministers on the implementation by UK Overseas Territories of public registers of beneficial ownership.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with HM Treasury Ministers on the implementation by UK Overseas Territories of public registers of beneficial ownership.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits to developing countries of the implementation of public registers of beneficial ownership by UK Overseas Territories with financial centres.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK continues to lead the way on beneficial ownership disclosure and to encourage others to do the same. We are having discussions at both Ministerial and official level with the Overseas Territories to emphasise the importance of this agenda. Any system should meet the following criteria: UK and domestic law enforcement and tax authorities must be able to access company beneficial ownership information without restriction, subject to relevant safeguards; these competent authorities should be able to quickly identify all companies that a particular beneficial owner has a stake in, without needing to submit multiple and repeated requests; and companies or their beneficial owners must not be alerted to the fact that an investigation is under way.

Developing Countries: Equality

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure its programme of work contributes to Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals on reduced inequalities.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK welcomes, and is committed to championing, the Global Goals. Through our commitment to global development, and by honouring our 0.7% aid commitments, we will play a key role in helping countries to achieve these goals – especially on eradicating extreme poverty, hunger and disease. The UK has played a key role in creating a set of goals that are universal and inclusive, and underpinned by a commitment to leave no one behind.Given the focus of DFID’s work and interventions on those living in extreme poverty, DFID programmes contribute to reducing within country inequality. The new UK Aid strategy commits the government to being a world leader in implementing the Leave No One Behind Promise agreed by the Prime Minister and other world leaders in September 2015. To deliver the new strategy, the government will focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, the most excluded, those caught in crises, and those most at risk of violence and discrimination.

Nepal: Overseas Aid

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her is taking to monitor the effectiveness of her Department's aid spending in Nepal.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Across our portfolio in Nepal, monitoring plans are in place for every programme. Our strong focus on results delivery ensures we are well placed to monitor the effectiveness of our programmes in delivering planned development outcomes. Regular monitoring activities include staff undertaking field visits on a mandatory basis to verify progress on the ground, with robust annual review processes in place. We also undertake monitoring approaches that involve the beneficiaries of our programmes having the opportunity to provide feedback on programmes, including public audits and participatory monitoring approaches.Since the earthquake, DFID Nepal has set up a regional office in Gorkha district to increase oversight of humanitarian and reconstruction programmes. The Risk Management Office also provides effective on-the-ground monitoring directly from the districts where our programmes are implemented.At the bilateral level, DFID Nepal is a core member of the Nepal Portfolio Performance Review led by the government with development partners on an annual and trimester basis.

Nepal: Human Rights

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether conditions regarding respect for human rights are attached to aid funds provided to the government of Nepal.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID Nepal has signed an overarching Development Partnership Arrangement with the Government of Nepal that enshrines the partnership principles, one of which is respect for human rights. At the programme level, our Memorandum of Understandings with the Government also include a specific clause that state conditions regarding respect for human rights attached to financial aid funds.

Department for Education

Sportsgrounds: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress has been made on the application by Romford Football Club to build a stadium on Westlands playing field; and when she expects a decision on that application will be reached.

Edward Timpson: School playing fields are protected by Section 77 of the SchoolStandards and Framework Act 1998. Schoolsand local authorities must obtain the Secretary of State’s approval beforethey can dispose of their land. Applications to dispose of schoolplaying fields are considered by the independent school playing fields advisory panel, and are approved only when it is demonstrated that the application meets published criteria.We are aware of an application by Havering Local Authority to seek approval to dispose of part of Westlands Playing Field to Romford Football Club. The application is currently being processed by officials at the Education Funding Agency, who are seeking further detail from the local authority about the proposal. The application will only be considered when sufficient information is available to assess the overall benefit of the scheme against the needs of pupils and existing community users. The Secretary of State will consider the panel’s recommendation before making her final decision.

Children: Day Care

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress is being made on the implementation of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

Mr Sam Gyimah: On 1 June 2015, the government introduced a Bill to create a new entitlement to 30 hours of free childcare for working parents of three and four-year-olds.The entitlement is on track to be implemented early for some families in some areas from September 2016, with full roll-out across England from September 2017. More details will be available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-bill-policy-statement

Academies: Headteachers

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many heads of academies are paid more than the Prime Minister.

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many employees of academies, in which roles, are paid more than the Prime Minister.

Nick Gibb: The data provided to the Department by schools in the November 2014 School Workforce Census shows that 52 head teachers in academy schools in England were paid a salary of £142,500 or more.Of the other roles within the scope of the School Workforce Census, there were fewer than five teachers in academies receiving a salary of £142,500 or more.

GCSE

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the planned move to a numeric GCSE grading system in England on the comparability and portability of GCSE results in Northern Ireland.

Nick Gibb: It is a matter for the regulator Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, to set grade standards. Ofqual ran a consultation and carried out impact assessments on a move to a numeric GCSE grading system in England.I have asked Ofqual’s Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the Honourable Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

GCSE

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has discussed the planned move to a numeric grading system for GCSEs in England with her Northern Ireland counterpart.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State has not had any meetings with Northern Ireland’s Minister for Education to discuss the grading system for GCSEs in England. Her predecessor discussed reforms to GCSEs in England with John O’Dowd (Minister for Education, Northern Ireland) and Leighton Andrews (Minister for Education and Skills, Wales) in May 2013.Department for Education officials have regular meetings with officials from the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as the regulators Ofqual and Qualifications Wales, to discuss the qualification reforms taking place in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Schools: Closures

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school days have been lost to snow closures in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not collect information on the number of school days lost due to snow closures.

Teachers: Pensions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many surviving spouses of teachers who retired or died prior to 1 January 2007 have lost their entitlement to their late spouse's pension on remarrying.

Nick Gibb: Data on the cessation of spouses’ pensions are not collated centrally, and the records of all individual members would need to be investigated to determine how many spouses’ pensions have ceased as a result of the surviving spouse having remarried. This could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Teachers: Recruitment

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 13837, if she will publish a full list of target countries included in her Department's STEM international recruitment programme indicating how many teachers have been recruited from each such country.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 13849, how much of the £67 million package to target additional specialist mathematics and physics teachers has been specifically assigned to her Department's STEM international recruitment programme.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 13836, if she will provide the information requested in the original question.

Nick Gibb: We believe schools should have the freedom to recruit the teachers they need. For the STEM international recruitment activity, target countries, as well as specific states, territories and regions within those countries, are being determined. This will include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and EEA countries. Further information is on the Department’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualified-teacher-status-qtsThe budget allocated for this financial year is £40,500. Funding for future years will be determined according to need.The Department does not collect or hold data on how many teachers schools have recruited from each country. We have records of overseas teachers who have applied for QTS but this does not necessarily mean that the applicant has then taken a post in an English school. Visa information for non EEA nationals is collected by the Home Office.

Teachers

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2015 to Question 14873, and with reference to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213691, what her most recent estimate is of the number of teachers needed in (a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) science, (d) physics, (e) computer science, (f) modern languages, (g) geography and (h) history in (i) 2016-17, (ii) 2017-18, (iii) 2018-19, (iv) 2019-20 and (v) 2020-21.

Nick Gibb: I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 9 November 2015 to PQ 14872 and 14873, which was as follows:The Department for Education uses the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) to estimate the demand for the number of qualified teachers within state-funded schools in England each year using a range of assumptions, including projections for the numbers of pupils in schools, the number of teachers expected to leave the sector and the number of returnees.The estimate of teacher demand is published in part 1 of the TSM here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-modelThe TSM’s primary purpose is to provide an estimate of the number of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places required in the 2016/17 academic year to yield the required number of Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) entering the profession in 2017/18. The TSM is updated annually to reflect the latest available data.The estimates of the number of teachers needed in the current TSM differ from those provided the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213691 because the inputs, such as population projections, have been updated to use the most recent data.

Schools: Emergency Services

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many occasions emergency services have attended schools because of snow or ice related incidents in each of the last three years.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not collect information on the number of occassions on which emergency services have attended schools because of snow or ice related incidents.

Teachers

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2015 to Question 14872, and with reference to the Answer of 3 November 2014 to Question 212178, what her most recent estimate is of the number of teachers needed in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2018-19, (d) 2019-20 and (e) 2020-21.

Nick Gibb: I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 9 November 2015 to PQ 14872 and 14873, which was as follows:The Department for Education uses the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) to estimate the demand for the number of qualified teachers within state-funded schools in England each year using a range of assumptions, including projections for the numbers of pupils in schools, the number of teachers expected to leave the sector and the number of returnees.The estimate of teacher demand is published in part 1 of the TSM here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-modelThe TSM’s primary purpose is to provide an estimate of the number of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places required in the 2016/17 academic year to yield the required number of Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) entering the profession in 2017/18. The TSM is updated annually to reflect the latest available data.The estimates of the number of teachers needed in the current TSM differ from those provided the Answer of 3 November 2014 to Question 212178 because the inputs, such as population projections, have been updated to use the most recent data.

Teachers: Pensions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to extend the entitlement to their late spouse's teacher's pension to the surviving spouses of teachers who retired or died prior to January 2007 and lost their entitlement to their late spouse's pension on remarrying.

Nick Gibb: It has been the policy of successive governments that changes or improvements to all public service pension schemes should not normally be applied retrospectively. This policy protects the current membership from having to meet the cost of potentially very expensive improvements. There are therefore no plans to extend the entitlement for those whose spouse was a member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and who died or retired before January 2007.

Ministry of Justice

Cremation: Welsh Language

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to allow members of the public to make an application for a cremation in Welsh.

Caroline Dinenage: The Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008 require that, in order for a cremation to proceed, the crematorium medical referee must scrutinise the application and associated medical or coroner forms before authorising a cremation.An application made in Wales may be for a cremation in Wales or a cremation in England. A medical referee in Wales may not be a Welsh speaker, and a medical referee in England will almost certainly not be a Welsh speaker.Applications in Wales must therefore be made in English, to make sure that the medical referee can understand and authorise the cremation in a timely manner wherever the cremation is to take place.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 13072, on Ministry of Justice: Departmental Responsibilities, tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 22 October 2015.

Dominic Raab: The answer to 13072 was given on 24 November 2015.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish information about the number of trans people in prison.

Caroline Dinenage: As my Honourable Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation, committed to the House on 20 November, my Department will publish data on the number of trans people in prison in due course.While the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not currently have complete information, work is in hand and Ministers are currently receiving advice on the best way to collect this data whilst complying with our legal duties under both the Equalities Act and the Gender Recognition Act.

Gender Recognition: Prisoners

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the National Offender Management Service on the implementation of guidelines on the care and management of transsexual prisoners.

Caroline Dinenage: As I informed the Women and Equalities Committee, the National Offender Management Service is currently reviewing the policy document on transgender prisoners to ensure that this continues to provide the most appropriate support for transgender people in custody, as well as extending it to address the needs of transgender people serving community sentences. I will be taking a close personal interest in this to ensure that transgender offenders continue to be appropriately cared for and supported. The intention is to implement the revised guidance in due course.

Gender Recognition

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward proposals to speed up the process for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to remove the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria as a pre-requisite for obtaining legal gender recognition.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government takes transgender equality issues very seriously and has actively contributed towards the Women and Equalities Select Committee's inquiry into transgender equality. There are no current plans to review the Gender Recognition Act, however the Government will consider the recommendations of the inquiry once they become available.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 7 November 2015 on broadband access, what public funding has been assigned for the delivery of the Universal Service Obligation for broadband; and whether he plans to publish this information as part of the comprehensive spending review.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Government will be consulting in early 2016 on the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband. The USO will be designed to be as efficient as possible, and ensure value for money for the consumer and taxpayer.

Telecommunications: Hearing Impairment

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on introducing requirements on communications providers to improve access to relay video services since Ofcom's review of relay services on 2011-12.

Mr Edward Vaizey: DCMS has had several discussions with Ofcom to promote the provision of video relay services in the UK. In addition we have hosted meetings of the eAccessibility ForumVideo Relay Services Providers Working sub-group and have written to the FTSE 100 companies to challenge them to introduce the service. We welcome the increasing number of companies offering video relay services. Public facing Government departments will continue to work with interested parties to ensure this positive progress continues.

Telephones: Hearing Impairment

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his polices of the report by the UK Council on Deafness, Impact assessment: telephony equivalence for d/Deaf people, published in November 2013.

Mr Edward Vaizey: We welcome what has been achieved over the years with the introduction of Next Generation Text Relay and the number of companies offering video relay services increasing. Public facing Government departments will continue to work with interested parties to ensure this positive progress continues.

Telecommunications

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to publish its proposed reforms to the Electronic Communications Code.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Electronic Communications Code that is clear, fit for purpose, and supports a UK network that provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services. We will update Parliament on plans in due course.

Broadband: Wales

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on its proposals to open up BT fibre for business lines in Wales.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom has proposed that competitors be granted access to BT’s fibre network in Wales and across the UK. It has consulted on this proposal and expects to publish its decision in early 2016. This is a matter on which the regulator must decide.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to embed the Family Test into its policy making.

Priti Patel: Officials have undertaken a number of activities to embed the Family Test into the policy making process. This has included training officials on applying the Test, as well as disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.

Employment: Bullying

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle workplace bullying.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP takes any suggestions of workplace bullying in any form very seriously.All employees are required to report instances of bullying and seek support through our internal HR Support teams. In the first instance they are directed to our dedicated HR Mediation and Investigation Service. These trained professionals are able to assist managers and employees in resolving workplace disputes including complaints of Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying.Immediate telephone support for individuals is available through our Employee Assistance Programme. Employees contacting the service because of bullying receive extra support and counselling. This service is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.Where problems have been identified we have also been able to arrange specific Bullying and Harassment awareness sessions aimed directly at managers, with positive results.During this year’s anti bullying week all employees were reminded of the support and guidance available.

Work Capability Assessment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the study entitled 'First, do no harm': are disability assessments associated with adverse trends in mental health? A longitudinal ecological study, published in November 2015 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Priti Patel: The Department will study the report. However, as the authors make clear, their report does not show a causal link between the Incapacity Benefit reassessment process and rates of suicide, mental ill-health or use of anti-depressants.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2015 to Question 13828, what other benefits will be available to Syrian immigrants; and what assessment he has made of the effect the payment of such benefits will have on local authorities (a) in general and (b) with regards to the housing of Syrian migrants under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

Priti Patel: Syrians entering the United Kingdom under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme receive an initial 12 month support package, including accommodation, integration support and English language tuition. Local Authorities are actively engaged in this process. Those participating in the scheme will be able to work and will have access to some benefits (depending upon their individual circumstances and the eligibility criteria for those benefits).

Employment: Health

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment the Government has made of the benefit to businesses of a healthy workforce.

Priti Patel: There is a good evidence base for the benefits to business of a healthy workforce, for example, workers who are in good health can be up to three times as productive as those in poor health. Conversely there are high costs to business from ill health: ‘Health at Work – an independent review of sickness absence’ found that the costs to employers of sick pay were £9bn per year.

Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of tenants in the private rented sector were in receipt of housing benefit in each of the last 10 years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information from 2008 to 2015 is available and is published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit caseload data prior to 2008 can be found at:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107093842/http:/statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/index.php?page=hbctb_arc

Employment: Disability

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how he plans to define (a) disability and (b) employment for the purposes of measuring the Government's progress towards halving the disability employment gap.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to set targets for measuring progress towards the goal of halving the disability employment gap.

Justin Tomlinson: Progress against the disability employment gap commitment is a key factor in progress towards full employment. This is consistent with the Government’s manifesto commitment which said ‘as part of our objective to achieve full employment, we will aim to halve the disability employment gap’. The annual report on progress towards full employment will include an update on the Government’s progress towards halving the disability employment gap.Disability is defined in the Equality Act 2010: “A person has a disability if (a) [they] have a physical or mental impairment, and (b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [their] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”Employment in the UK is measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Statistics on disabled employment are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics, based on internationally agreed definitions.

Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for housing benefit in the private rented sector in each of the last 10 years were made by people who were in work at the time they made their claim.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not held.

Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people currently in receipt of housing benefit in the private rented sector are also in receipt of (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment and support allowance, (c) income support, (d) disability living allowance, (e) personal independence payment, (f) the state pension and (g) pension credit.

Justin Tomlinson: The information required for those in the private sector receiving Housing Benefit and (c) Income Support and (g) Pension Credit is available and published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.htmlInformation on those receiving Housing Benefit and receiving the other benefits: (a) Jobseeker’s Allowance, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, (d) Disability Living Allowance, (e) Personal Independence Payment and (f) State Pension, is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many working households in receipt of (a) working tax credit and (b) universal credit have marginal deduction rates of (i) less than 70, (ii) between 70 and 80, (iii) between 80 and 90 and (iv) more than 90 per cent on earned income above the level of the applicable disregard.

Priti Patel: In 2010 we estimated that in the existing system half a million people had marginal deduction rates of 80% or above. See page 55 of Universal Credit: Welfare that Works report, below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/48897/universal-credit-full-document.pdfFurther information is not available as we have not updated these estimates.

Employment: Disability

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the Government as an employer and commissioner to increasing rates of employment among disabled people.

Justin Tomlinson: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 26 November 2015.The correct answer should have been:

All Government Departments have clear objectives to increase workforce diversity, including disabled people. I We have been working with officials across Whitehall to assess the proportion of disabled people employed by Government, and to identify ways to improve those numbers.As at 31 March 2015, 8.9% of Civil Service employees declared their disability status, up from 7.6% in 2010 and 8.8% in 2014.With reference to commissioning, successful bidders for contracts in excess of 12 months are required to submit annual Diversity & Equality Delivery Plans, workforce monitoring data and Contractor and any Sub-contractor’s policy/policies and procedures for preventing unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity in respect of a range of groups, including people with a disability. We will continue to seek opportunities to encourage, and offer support to, employers to employ more disabled people.This Government is committed to being an exemplar employer and will continue to support employers and disabled people to create opportinities and increase disability emplyment.

Justin Tomlinson: All Government Departments have clear objectives to increase workforce diversity, including disabled people. I We have been working with officials across Whitehall to assess the proportion of disabled people employed by Government, and to identify ways to improve those numbers.As at 31 March 2015, 8.9% of Civil Service employees declared their disability status, up from 7.6% in 2010 and 8.8% in 2014.With reference to commissioning, successful bidders for contracts in excess of 12 months are required to submit annual Diversity & Equality Delivery Plans, workforce monitoring data and Contractor and any Sub-contractor’s policy/policies and procedures for preventing unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity in respect of a range of groups, including people with a disability. We will continue to seek opportunities to encourage, and offer support to, employers to employ more disabled people.This Government is committed to being an exemplar employer and will continue to support employers and disabled people to create opportinities and increase disability emplyment.

Personal Independence Payment

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department offers to enable personal independence payment (PIP) applicants to attend PIP assessment centres.

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what alternative options his Department offers to personal independence payment (PIP) applicants unable to travel to PIP assessment centres.

Justin Tomlinson: Claimants attending an assessment by public or personal transport can claim back their travel costs. Where public transport is unavailable or the claimant is unable to use it, the claimant can contact their assessment provider to ask if taxi-fares would be payable for their journey.Alternatively, the option of a face-to-face consultation in the claimant’s home is available if the claimant indicates that they are unfit to travel to a consultation or where travel would require high levels of support.

Personal Independence Payment: Scotland

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home visit assessments were offered to personal independence payment claimants in Scotland in the last 12 months; and whether his Department has declined to provide such assessments to any claimants who have requested such assessments.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not collated and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

Personal Independence Payment

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the costs of the contract for personal independence payment assessments is assigned to cover support and travel costs for claimants who need support to attend assessment centres.

Justin Tomlinson: There is no apportionment for travel costs within the Personal Independence Payment contracts but the contractor is responsible for paying all travel expenses.

Universal Credit: Housing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate expertise in local housing market conditions among staff administering universal credit in jobcentres.

Priti Patel: The role of DWP is to administer the payment of Universal Credit (UC) and within that there is a Housing Cost element. The Local Authorities (LA) and Valuation Office keep their existing roles by providing valuation and housing advice. UC claims are assessed in UC service centres, not jobcentres.UC is being rolled out in a safe and controlled way to allow us to adapt and grow the capability we need over time. To support UC in assessment of the housing costs as part of delivering the live service, LA staff have been seconded on a short term basis to support improvements in housing cost knowledge for staff in UC Service centres.

Welfare to Work

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of mental health charities on the design of contracts for new welfare to work schemes.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP Ministers meet regularly with a wide range of organisations in relation to the Department’s work and welfare reform, where they discuss a variety of issues.

Department for Work and Pensions: Welsh Language

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the forms of his Department's website are available in Welsh.

Priti Patel: The DWP has 40 published forms on gov.uk. Of those covered by the Welsh Language Act, 22 are available in Welsh and the rest will be by January 2016.

Jobcentre Plus: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of jobcentres have a private room in which Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services can take place.

Priti Patel: The Budget 2015 provided £15 million over three years to co-locate Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in Jobcentres. We are looking to test co-location of IAPT services in two phases in 2015-2018. Within the first phase Canterbury Jobcentre is hosting their local IAPT service within private rooms on site. The second phase will test co-location of IAPT in a wider number of Jobcentres, which have yet to be selected. Some Jobcentres are independently building relationships with their local IAPT services under Freedom and Flexibilities.

Universal Credit: Payments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the ability of employees paid weekly to meet their living costs in the period between becoming unemployed and receiving their first payment of universal credit.

Priti Patel: Where a claimant’s earnings or income is insufficient to meet their living costs and in order to safeguard against financial hardship before the first Universal Credit (UC) payment, an advance payment of up to 50% of their UC award may be made.Personal Budgeting Support advice is also available to all claimants.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to provide better support for ex-servicemen and women and their families.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues about providing more comprehensive support for ex-servicemen and women and their families.

Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 November 2015 to Questions 15830 and 15831.



Veterans: Government Assistance
(Word Document, 15.32 KB)

Radar: Hebrides

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department will meet the revised December 2015 target for upgrading air defence radars at RRH Benbecula and RRH Buchan to the TPS-77 radar standard.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Type 92 radars at Remote Radar Heads Buchan and Benbecula have both been upgraded to the TPS-77 standard; the Buchan upgrade was completed on 30 March 2015 and the Benbecula upgrade on 3 July 2015.

Radar: Hebrides

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons are for the time taken to upgrade air defence radars at RRH Benbecula and RRH Buchan to the TPS-77 radar standard.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Type 92 radar has undergone extensive modifications to the signal processing equipment to bring the radar to TPS-77 standard. This complex work required the manufacture and replacement of safety-critical components and extensive testing, whilst also maintaining operational capability, which has necessitated the deployment of an additional radar whilst the Type 92 was being upgraded - all of which has been carefully managed by the Ministry of Defence and delivered to time and within cost.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the development of Watchkeeper.

Mr Philip Dunne: Development costs are not separately identified as they are included within the main Demonstration, Manufacturing and Initial Support contract with Thales UK. The current total financial approval for development and delivery of Watchkeeper to Full Operating Capability is £927 million.

Air Force

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many qualified fast-jet pilots were employed by the RAF in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The number of qualified fast jet pilots in the Royal Air Force, as of 1 January in each of the last five years is shown below, and includes both Regular and Reserve personnel.20112012201320142015720680660670640In accordance with Defence Statistics rounding policy, the numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10, with numbers ending in five being rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Home Office

Islamic State

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure companies or individuals suspected of funding ISIL through oil trades do not operate or transfer money through the UK financial system; and what steps she has taken to assess whether such steps have been effective.

Mr John Hayes: International engagement is a key part of the UK’s strategy for countering the financing of terrorism and the UK is part of the Global Coalition working together to dismantle and destroy the threat from ISIL. Denying ISIL access to revenue and funding for its ambitions of statehood is a core part of the Global Coalition’s strategy to defeat ISIL.The Government works closely with law enforcement and industry bodies such as the British Bankers’ Association. We also work bilaterally with international partners, and with multilateral institutions such as the Financial Action Task Force, to build international capacity the financing of terrorism.The recent Home Office and HM Treasury National Risk Assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing (published 15 October - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-risk-assessment-of-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing) gave a clear and candid assessment of the current overall situation. It found that while the UK’s response to terrorist financing risks is well developed, more could be done to strengthen our regime. The Government will take forward comprehensive work to address these findings through a new cross-Government Action Plan.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre: Staff

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the officers employed at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are male.

James Brokenshire: Management information shows that the proportion of male officers employed at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre as of 17 November 2015 is 51%.Deployment of staff to the accommodation units is reviewed on a daily basis by Serco, with the aim of two-thirds of staff on female units being female officers.

Offences against Children

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress the National Group on Sexual Violence Against Children and Vulnerable People has made on establishing a Child Sexual Exploitation Response Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: The actions which stemmed from the National Group’s work have been incorporated into a cross-Whitehall CSA Programme which includes the actions from the “Tackling CSE” report published in March 2015, and the WeProtect Summit in December 2014.Good progress is being made across the range of commitments in the CSA Programme, including that to establish a new national response unit to help local areas when child sexual exploitation is a particular concern. The Government will publish a progress report on all actions within the Programme one year on from the publication of “Tackling CSE”.

Intelligence Services: Scotland

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Statement of 16 November 2015, Official Report, columns 379 to 382, what proportion of the new security officers announced in that Statement she plans will be based in Scotland.

Mr John Hayes: We do not discuss specific deployments of SIA officers. The Rt. Hon member can be confident that the Strategic Defence and Security Review is a good result for the whole of the UK.

Visas: Domestic Service

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the report on overseas domestic worker visas carried out by James Ewins.

James Brokenshire: Mr Ewins’s report has been submitted to the Home Office and will be published shortly.

Human Trafficking: Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to lay before Parliament her report on the steps she will take in relation to the powers conferred by section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act on independent child trafficking advocates.

Karen Bradley: Section 48(7) of the Modern Slavery Act requires the Government to lay before Parliament a report setting out the steps it proposes to take in relation to independent child trafficking advocates within nine months of Royal Assent of the Modern Slavery Act. The Government will publish this report by 16 December, whilst Parliament is sitting.

National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.

Mike Penning: Since 20 May 2015, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been operating with full powers in Northern Ireland. As the NCA reported to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 01 October 2015, the scope of NCA’s crime-fighting capability within the jurisdiction has increased. During the period April-June 2015, the NCA recorded 26 disruptions against organised crime groups and high priority threats operating in Northern Ireland. The NCA has worked in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the support that the NCA provides law enforcement partners, particularly the PSNI has been enhanced.The NCA is committed to playing its role in tackling serious and organised crime in Northern Ireland. The NCA will be fully engaged in delivering the commitment outlined in ‘A Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ to undertake a concerted and enhanced effort to combat serious and organised and cross border crime.

Asylum: Children

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people aged between 18 and 25 who applied for asylum as unaccompanied children were served with removal directions in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who initially claimed asylum as unaccompanied children have applied to extend or vary their leave in each of the last five years.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied children who have had their claims certified have been removed from the UK in the last five years.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied children have had their claims certified in each of the last five years.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people over 18 who applied for asylum as unaccompanied children in each year since 2010 have been (a) removed from the UK and (b) left voluntarily.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged between 18 and 25 who claimed asylum as unaccompanied children and had their claims certified have been removed from the UK in each of the last five years.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people over 18 who claimed asylum as unaccompanied children and had their claims certified have appealed out of country in each of the last five years; and how many such appeals were successful.

James Brokenshire: The figures in the below table detail the number of former unaccompanied asylum seeking children aged between 18 and 25 who were served with Removal Directions in each year between 2010 and 2014.Removal Directions ServedNumber of Cases20103062011478201232720133302014245The figures in the below table detail the number of persons who initially claimed asylum as unaccompanied children and who applied to extend or vary their leave in each year between 2010 and 2015. The figure for 2015 is correct up to 30 June 2015.YearApplications to vary or extend leave201068820116892012653201351920148362015696Total4081The figures in the below table detail the number of certified decisions made on cases involving unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the last 5 years. The figure for 2015 is correct up to 30 June 2015. In cases where a certification decision on an asylum and human rights claim was made, consideration would also have been given to whether it was appropriate to grant leave in accordance with the policy on asylum applications from unaccompanied asylum seeking children.Certification Decision MadeNo of Cases20102720119201210201318201487201585The figures in the below table detail the number of former unaccompanied asylum seeking children who were either removed from the United Kingdom or departed voluntarily in each year between 2010 and 2015. The figure for 2015 is correct up to 30 June 2015.Year of Asylum ApplicationVoluntary DepartureEnforced Removal201040652011283820121535201311442014015201500The figures in the below table detail the number of former unaccompanied asylum seeking children who had their asylum claim certified and were aged between 18 and 25 when they were removed from the United Kingdom in each year between 2010 and 2015.RemovalsNo of Cases20101201152012320135201413201522In the last five years, there has only been one case in which a former unaccompanied asylum seeking child had their claim for asylum certified and later lodged an out of country appeal against this decision. In this case the out of country appeal was dismissed.The figures in the below table detail how many former unaccompanied asylum seeking children, whose claim for asylum was certified by the Home Office, have been removed from the United Kingdom in each of the last 5 years. The figure for 2015 is correct up to 30 June 2015.RemovalsNo of Cases20102201172012320136201413201522

West Midlands Police: Performance Standards

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the efficiency of West Midlands Police.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Brittany Ferries: Game

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Brittany Ferries on the carriage of game birds on their ships.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website: http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timetable she plans to set for ratification of the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 26 November 2015



The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012. We will only commit to ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles. The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles but primary legislation is required to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provision set out in Article 44 of the Convention. We are liaising with the devolved administrations about ratification, including the further legislative steps required.We will continue to lead efforts to tackle violence against women and girls. End Female Genital Mutilation and combat early and forced marriage, both at home and abroad.

Employment: Crime

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 14607, what the evidential basis is for the assertion on page 8 of the consultation document, Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market, published in October 2015, that there has been a shift from abuses of employment regulation.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HM Treasury

Minimum Wage

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees were identified as being paid less than the national minimum wage following HM Revenue and Customs enforcement activity in each of the last five years; and how many of those employees were compensated in full.

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers were identified as being paid less than the national minimum wage in each of the last five years; how many and what proportion of such employers were issued with a formal notice of underpayment; how many and what proportion of those employers issued with such a formal notice (a) paid arrears in full on receipt of that notice and (b) were pursued by HM Revenue and Customs in the civil courts.

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been paid to HM Revenue and Customs in fines for non-compliance with minimum wage legislation in each of the last 10 years.

Mr David Gauke: In 2014/15, HM Revenue and Customs identified 735 incidences of non-compliance and issued penalties of £934,660. They recovered arrears for 26,318 workers.I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 218083 for numbers of workers for the previous years, to the answer provided to her on 6 May 2014 at Hansard Column 110W for information on arrears, and to the answer provided to her at UIN 205613 with regard to penalties.I further refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 211605 for information on recovery of arrears.

VAT: Sanitary Protection

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the abolition of Value Added Tax on sanitary products.

Mr David Gauke: Following the recent Parliamentary debate on this issue, I have written to the European Commission and other Member States setting out the Government’s view that Member States should have full discretion over what rate of VAT they can apply to sanitary products, and that this should be considered in the context of the Commission’s ambition to produce an Action Plan on VAT initiatives in 2016.

Minimum Wage

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been paid to employees in arrears as a result of enforcement of minimum wage legislation by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last 10 years.

Mr David Gauke: The information requested is provided in the ‘Final Government Evidence for the Low Pay Commission’ reports.

Dentists: National Insurance Contributions

Stewart McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the £2,000 employment allowance is not allotted to NHS dentists employed as independent contractors.

Mr David Gauke: The Employment Allowance is an annual cut of up to £2,000 from the employer National Insurance Contributions bill of businesses and charities throughout the UK. As announced by the Chancellor in his Summer Budget, the allowance will increase to £3,000 from 2016-17.The allowance is designed to back businesses looking to grow and take on new people by reducing the costs of employment. Where businesses are already funded wholly or mainly by the public sector, they already benefit from public funds and as a result are not eligible for the Employment Allowance.

Treasury: Grants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the extent to which grants made by his Department to third parties are used for activities designed to influence his Department, other departments or Parliament.

Greg Hands: During the current financial year (2015-16), there have been no grants made to third parties which have subsequently been used for activities designed to influence theTreasury, other departments or Parliament.

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants have reported difficulties in renewing their claim online in the last 12 months.

Damian Hinds: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants have received help with the digital skills required to renew their tax credit claim in the last 12 months.

Damian Hinds: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Wholesale Trade: Alcoholic Drinks

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme is introduced and now planned on 1 January 2016.

Damian Hinds: The Government remains committed to introducing the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) from 1 January 2016. Since 1 October 2015, HMRC has invited a number of businesses to test the registration service that will be released, including some whose applications are now lodged with HMRC and are ready to be considered when registration activity formally begins.

Electronic Commerce: VAT

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2015 to Question 16174, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of HM Revenue and Customs' targeting of operational and intelligence activity on tackling online VAT fraud.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is actively targeting operational and intelligence activity, as well as a range of other options, to tackle this issue. This work is ongoing. However, HMRC is unable to give details of specific results in respect of any individual taxpayer because of taxpayer confidentiality.

Electronic Commerce: VAT

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2015 to Question 16174, what success his Department has had in targeting operational and intelligence activity on tackling online VAT fraud.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is actively targeting operational and intelligence activity, as well as a range of other options, to tackle this issue. The work is ongoing. However, HMRC is unable to give details of specific results in respect of any individual taxpayer because of taxpayer confidentiality.

Homelessness

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward plans to monitor the effectiveness of how the Homelessness Protection Grant is spent.

Greg Hands: Since 2010, local councils have had more flexibility over how they spend the money they receive from central government. It is up to individual authorities to decide how grant funding should be spent in order to deliver local services. To ensure that councils have the necessary skills to do this, the Government supported the establishment of the National Practitioner Support Service’s ‘Gold Standard’ programme to help improve the effectiveness of local authority homelessness prevention services.

Homelessness

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward plans to develop a formula to allocate the Homelessness Protection Grant according to the levels of homelessness and rough sleeping in local authorities.

Greg Hands: The allocation of Homeless Prevention Grant has developed over many years to take account of different kinds of pressures, including rough sleeping and statutory homelessness.Since 2013-14 support for preventing homelessness has been included in the annual Local Government Finance Settlement, split between Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates. Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates are not ring-fenced. It is up to individual authorities to decide how grant funding should be spent in order to deliver local services.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Housing

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2015 to Question 3036, whether the estimated reduction in household bills in 2030 indicated in that Answer has changed to take into account the deal on nuclear new build with the Chinese government.

Andrea Leadsom: We currently estimate that a new nuclear programme could reduce average household bills by up to around £30 (real 2012 prices) in 2030. This is calculated by comparing the costs for consumers in a modelled scenario for the future electricity mix with Hinkley Point C and a further roll out of the new nuclear programme with the cost for consumers in a scenario where there are no new nuclear power stations by 2030. Savings could be higher or lower depending on changes in the cost of alternative generation technologies and what mix of technologies would ultimately be used. Earlier analysis had identified a higher saving, but other low carbon energy technologies have become far more cost competitive which has brought down the cost.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the likely effect on household electricity bills of the agreement of a £92.50 MWh rate for the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

Andrea Leadsom: Under the CfD consumers will not pay anything for electricity until the plant is powering their homes and businesses. Payments under the CfD are expected to make up around £10 (real 2012 prices) of the average household energy bill in 2030. This should be seen in the context of Hinkley Point C meeting 7% of the UK’s energy needs, and set against our estimate that a new nuclear programme could reduce average household bills by up to around £30 in 2030. This is calculated by comparing the costs for consumers in a modelled scenario for the future electricity mix with Hinkley Point C and a further role out of the new nuclear programme with the cost for consumers in a scenario where there are no new nuclear power stations by 2030. Savings could be higher or lower depending on changes in the cost of alternative generation technologies and what mix of technologies would ultimately be used.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the likely annual cost to electricity customers of the proposed Hinkley Point C power station (a) in total and (b) per customer.

Andrea Leadsom: Under the CfD consumers will not pay anything for electricity until the plant is powering their homes and businesses. Payments under the CfD are expected to make up around £10 (real 2012 prices) of the average household energy bill in 2030. This should be seen in the context of Hinkley Point C meeting 7% of the UK’s energy needs, and set against our estimate that a new nuclear programme could reduce average household bills by up to around £30 in 2030. This is calculated by comparing the costs for consumers in a modelled scenario for the future electricity mix with Hinkley Point C and a further role out of the new nuclear programme with the cost for consumers in a scenario where there are no new nuclear power stations by 2030. Savings could be higher or lower depending on changes in the cost of alternative generation technologies and what mix of technologies would ultimately be used.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Stewart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to encourage energy providers to join the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: Participation in the Warm Home Discount Scheme is mandatory for energy suppliers with 250,000 or more domestic customer accounts. The scheme includes a provision which allows non-obligated energy suppliers to voluntarily provide rebates to a Core Group of low income pensioners.

Renewables Obligation: Northern Ireland

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the Northern Ireland Executive has the option to continue to issue its own Renewables Obligation Certificates.

Andrea Leadsom: Decisions regarding the issuing of Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are matters for Northern Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to determine in accordance with the Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.[1][1] S.R. 2009/154, as amended by S.R. 2010/134, S.R. 2011/169, S.R. 2013/116, S.R. 2013/174 and S.R. 2014/146.

Electricity: Prices

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of the average electricity bill was attributable to the levy imposed by the Levy Control Framework to meet the cost of feed-in tariffs in 2014-15.

Andrea Leadsom: The costs of the small scale Feed-in Tariffs scheme in 2014/15 are estimated to have accounted for around 2 percent, on average, of the household electricity bill.

Climate Change Convention: Paris

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the Government's policy is on negotiating legally binding targets at the Paris World Climate Summit 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The UK Government is committed to securing at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 in Paris, an ambitious, legally binding global Agreement on climate change with mitigation commitments from all Parties and a set of rules that ensure transparency and accountability of commitments that will allow the world to track progress.The Prime Minister at the G7 Summit prioritised an ambitious climate package, and more recently at the G20, all Leaders were clear that an ambitious climate deal remains a global priority. My Ministerial colleagues and I are taking every opportunity to press for an agreement that meets these objectives.

Energy

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of  UK energy production that takes the form of non-renewable energy production outputs in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: We estimate that the proportion of electricity produced in the UK (gross total electricity supplied) which will be generated by non-renewable means over the next five years is as follows:2016 75%2017 71%2018 68%2019 66%2020 62%This excludes electricity supplied from other countries via interconnectors.The above data is taken from the reference scenario in Annex J of DECC’s 2015 Energy and Emissions Projections. This and other scenarios with differing economic growth and fossil fuel prices are available online at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-energy-and-emissions-projections-2015

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on costs to consumers of the contract for difference awarded to Hinkley Point C.

Andrea Leadsom: As stated in my answer to PQ 15115, under the CfD consumers won’t pay anything for electricity until the plant is powering their homes and businesses. Payments under the CfD are expected to make up around £10 (real 2012 prices) of the average household energy bill in 2030. This should be seen in the context of Hinkley Point C meeting 7% of the UK’s energy needs, and set against our estimate that a new nuclear programme could reduce average household bills by up to around £30 in 2030 (again in real 2012 prices). This is calculated by comparing the costs for consumers in a modelled scenario for the future electricity mix with Hinkley Point C and a further role out of the new nuclear programme with the cost for consumers in a scenario where there are no new nuclear power stations by 2030. Savings could be higher or lower depending on changes in the cost of alternative generation technologies and what mix of technologies would ultimately be used.

Solar Power

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of solar panels to reduce energy costs for consumers.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government proposed changes to the feed-in tariff scheme (FITs) as part of the FITs review, on which we consulted widely between 27th August and 23rd October. The proposals made clear that FITs generation tariffs are set taking into account: bill savings to the generator; value of power exported; and value of the generation tariff balanced against the costs of deploying, operating and maintaining the installations. Detail on the potential value of bill savings was set out in the impact assessment which was published alongside the FITs consultation.

Energy: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that reductions in energy prices are passed on to consumers by energy companies.

Andrea Leadsom: The government expects and has regular discussions with suppliers to make sure any reductions in the costs of supplying energy are passed to consumers.

Wind Power: Northern Ireland

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to her Statement of 19 November 2015, Official Report, column 807, whether the Northern Ireland Executive can progress its own policies on onshore wind.

Andrea Leadsom: Energy is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland. Whilst that means that the Northern Ireland Executive can develop its own policies on onshore wind, it is this government’s position that any policy which results in additional support to onshore wind should not be funded by the GB consumers.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Families

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department is monitoring the implementation of the family test across Government.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014, through the publication of guidance for officials - which can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf. Consideration of the Family Test takes place as part of the usual policy making process within departments.

Long Term Unemployed People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of (a) (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) people aged 16 to 24 and (b) people aged (i) 16 to 24, (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 20, (iv) 21 to 22 and (v) 23 to 24 had been unemployed for more than 12 months on the last date for which figures are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Unemployment
(PDF Document, 77.14 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

BBC: Scotland

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish his correspondence with the Scottish Government on BBC Charter renewal.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Correspondence from the Secretary of State to the Scottish Government on BBC Charter Review has been published and can be foundon the Gov.uk website at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bbc-charter-review-memoranda-of-understanding-with-the-devolved-administrations

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

National Wildlife Crime Unit: Finance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will provide funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit beyond March 2016.

Rory Stewart: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Gerald Jones, on 19 November 2015, PQ UIN16385.

Potash

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of insecurity of supply of potash minerals on farming and food production.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 24 June 2015, PQ UIN 3328.

National Wildlife Crime Unit: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the forthcoming cessation of funding of the National Wildlife Crime Unit on the prosecution of wildlife crime cases in the UK; and if she will make it her policy to continue funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit for the next five years.

Rory Stewart: An assessment of the effect of future funding decisions regarding the National Wildlife Crime Unit on the prosecution of wildlife crime cases in the UK has not yet been made.Decisions on future funding of the National Wildlife Crime Unit beyond March 2016 will be made as part of the current Spending Review process.

Lead: Ammunition

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on gunmakers of a ban on the use of lead in shotgun ammunition; and what plans she has to introduce such a ban.

Rory Stewart: The Government is considering the independent Lead Ammunition Group’s report on the effect of lead shot on human and wildlife health and will respond as soon as possible.A representative from the Gun Trade Association contributed to the group and the formation of its report.

Origin Marking: Occupied Territories

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to communicate the requirements of the European Commission's Interpretative Notice on indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, published on 11 November 2015, to (a) businesses, (b) importers and (c) consumers.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to promote to UK investors the publication by the European Commission of the Interpretative Notice on indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, on 11 November 2015.

George Eustice: The principal feature of the Interpretative Notice is a recommendation that goods imported into the EU which originate from Israeli settlements in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 should bear an indication which makes that provenance clear. That recommendation was included in technical advice to UK retailers and importers concerning labelling agricultural produce from the West Bank that was issued by Defra in 2009. We are currently in discussion with other Departments to consider whether revisions need to be made to the 2009 advice in the light of the Interpretative Notice.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on beak trimming of laying hens.

George Eustice: Since 2010, the use of a hot blade to routinely beak trim laying hens has been banned in the UK. In order to prevent injurious feather pecking, use of infra-red technology only is permitted on day old chicks. The Government established the Beak Trimming Action Group (BTAG), comprising representatives from industry, welfare groups, retailers, Defra, scientific and veterinary professions to look at ways birds might be managed so that even infra-red beak trimming would no longer be necessary. Having reviewed all the available evidence, BTAG has now submitted its recommendations, and the report will be placed in the House Library. I have accepted all of the Group’s recommendations.The Group advised that the risks of introducing a ban on infra-red beak trimming are too great. It could result in outbreaks of severe feather pecking and having to employ emergency beak trimming using the hot blade method, which is a far worse outcome from an animal welfare perspective. However, the BTAG report also identified improved management techniques that could reduce feather pecking. The Government expects to see these techniques introduced across the laying hen sector.

Department of Health

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust: Finance

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided to North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust to maintain a full range of services during the winter period.

Jane Ellison: Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group received an additional £1,994,000 in its baseline in 2015/16 with the specific purpose of ensuring resilience throughout the year, of this funding around two-thirds was allocated to North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust.

Employment: Health

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to work with businesses to improve the health of the workforce.

Jane Ellison: The Workplace Wellbeing Charter, published by Public Health England (PHE) provides a national standard for employers of all sizes and sectors with a systematic, evidence-based approach to workplace health improvement. The Charter is commissioned and coordinated by local authorities to support coherent action by businesses to improve the health of the local population.The Workplace Wellbeing Charter consolidates the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance relating to employer action. Organisations are accredited across critical areas such as leadership, specific health issues, systems for absence management and health and safety at three levels; commitment, achievement and excellence.PHE has worked with the Work@Health Centre, Alzheimer’s Society and British Heart Foundation and other partners to develop a series of topic based guides for businesses to support action on specific areas such as the food environment in workplaces and promoting physical activity and supporting carers.PHE is currently working with Business in the Community on a new resource for businesses focused specifically on addressing mental health issues building on the existing best practice and considering the transferable learning between business sectors and businesses of different sizes.

Dementia: Young People

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of services targeted at young people with dementia.

Jane Ellison: The Government is clear that all types of dementia remain a priority and will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. That is why on 21 February 2015, the 2020 Challenge was launched.Under the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020, we wish to encourage greater personalisation in the provision of post-diagnosis services including for younger people with dementia – this means building support around the individual with dementia, their carer and family and providing them with more choice, control and flexibility in the way they receive care and support – regardless of the setting in which they receive it.The Challenge recognises that local commissioners and providers need to continue to improve their understanding of the best ways to tailor post-diagnosis support services based on their local population's needs.It is therefore for clinical commissioning groups and local authorities, working together, to ensure that high quality, personalised services are delivered for people with dementia and their carers.

Department of Health: Official Engagements

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his official engagements were on (a) Monday 12 October and (b) Friday 20 November 2015.

Jane Ellison: On 12 October and 20 November my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State was fully focused on his priorities for the health service, which included securing a Spending Review settlement that backs the NHS’s own Five Year Forward View with an additional £10 billion a year above inflation by 2020.

Hospitals

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals he has visited in an official capacity in 2015-16 to date; and what the date of each such visit was.

Jane Ellison: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has undertaken the following visits to hospitals services in an official capacity since January 2015.15 January 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalLuton and Dunstable University HospitalLuton29 January 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalQueen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation TrustKing's Lynn5 February 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalColchester HospitalColchester5 February 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalQueen's Hospital, Barking, Havering, and RedbridgeRomford12 February 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalHereford County HospitalHereford6 March 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalPrincess Alexandra HospitalHarlow6 March 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalLister HospitalStevenage20 March 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalDover HopsitalDover  12 June 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalPapworth Hospital CambridgeCambridge Midlands and East26 June 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalTameside HospitalManchester North17 July 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalNational Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLondon23 July 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalRoyal FreeLondon23 July 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalWhipps Cross HospitalLondon30 July 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalRoyal LondonLondon9 September 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalSt Thomas HospitalLondon12 November 2015Mr Jeremy HuntHospitalSt Thomas HospitalLondon

Department of Health: Official Engagements

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many (a) Saturdays, (b) Sundays and (c) Bank Holidays he has attended meetings, receptions or other official functions in his capacity as Secretary of State.

Jane Ellison: My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the National Health Service, and is on call and briefed on relevant events seven days a week, including public holidays. He routinely works on Departmental business at the weekends, which includes attending meetings, visiting frontline services and carrying out official engagements where relevant.

Health: Finance

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the sexual health component of the proposed public health funding formula does not use indicators relating to sexually transmitted infection rates.

Jane Ellison: The publication Public health grant: proposed target allocation formula for 2016/17, an engagement of behalf of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) proposed a component for sexual health treatment services using data derived from rates of sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in 2013. ACRA is currently considering the responses before providing its final advice to Ministers.

Health Services: Children

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what weighting has been applied (a) to the sparsity indicator within the children's 0 to 5 services component relative to that for other components and (b) to address complex need within that component.

Jane Ellison: In the publication Public health grant: proposed target allocation formula for 2016/17, an engagement of behalf of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), ACRA proposed that there should be a sparsity adjustment to take account of the longer travel times to home visits by health visitors.The proposed sparsity adjustment is an index ranging between the values of 1.05 and 0.98 across local authorities, with an England average value of 1.00. The need weighted population for the 0-5 services component for each local authority is multiplied by this index to give the need and sparsity weighted populations.ACRA proposed in the engagement that the relative need weight per head for 0-5 children’s services should be based on the proportion of children in low income households. ACRA proposed that the weight per head should be four times higher for children in low income households than for other children. No further adjustment is prosed by ACRA.The engagement closed on 6 November and ACRA is currently considering the responses before providing its final advice to Ministers.

Health: Finance

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential proportion of local authorities which will experience (a) any reduction in their allocation and (b) a reduction of 20 per cent or more in their allocation as a result of the new proposed public health funding formula.

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the new proposed public health funding formula will be linked to an assessment of deprivation and greatest need in order to determine the allocation that different local authority areas receive; and what steps his Department is taking otherwise to ensure that areas of greatest need are not disproportionately affected by overall reductions in public health allocations.

Jane Ellison: On 8 October 2015, the Department published Public health grant: proposed target allocation formula for 2016/17, an engagement of behalf of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), a technical consultation to inform ACRA’s recommendations to Ministers on target shares of the local authority public health grant.ACRA is currently considering the responses before providing its final advice to ministers. Actual allocations for 2016-17 will be determined separately and will be announced in due course.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he had with EMIS Health on data protection.

George Freeman: No discussions between My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and EMIS about data protection have taken place.

Mental Health Services: Per Capita Costs

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much NHS England spent per head on mental health in each year since 2008.

George Freeman: NHS England was formed in April 2013.The table below shows actual expenditure by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) on mental health in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and forecast spend in 2015/16. This does not include spending on mental health services directly commissioned by NHS England.Total actual expenditure by on mental health by CCGs across all providers for 2013/14 and 2014/15 and the total forecast expenditure for 2015/162013/14 actual spend (£ million)2014/15 actual spend (£ million)2015/16 forecast spend (£ million)9.610.110.6Source: NHS England

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department has taken to embed the Family Test into its policy making.

Caroline Dinenage: Officials in my Department have liaised with the Department for Work and Pensions as the lead Department for the Family Test to embed it into the policy process. This has included training officials on applying the Test, disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.

LGBT People

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she plans to take to raise awareness of the prejudice against transgender people.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she took steps to mark Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Remembrance Day.

Caroline Dinenage: M​any transgender people face discrimination in the workplace, as well as in their day-to-day lives. That is why I will publish guidance for employers and service providers on 26 November 2015, to improve knowledge and understanding.I want to continue to raise awareness of the issues and discrimination facing many transgender and non-binary people.On Transgender Day of Remembrance, 20 November 2015, my department became the first to fly the transgender flag, remembering all those who have lost their lives and faced discrimination.

Females: State Retirement Pensions

Holly Lynch: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues on the effect of the increase in the state pension age on women.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Ministers regularly discuss matters of policy that span their responsibilities.Reasonable mitigation for those worst affected by changes in State Pension age was introduced in 2011. A concession was made prior to the passing of the 2011 Act which reduced the delay that anyone would experience in claiming their State Pension, relative to the previous timetable, to 18 months. This concession was worth £1.1 billion in total.This Government is committed to better outcomes for pensioners. However, the several billions of pounds that it would cost to make further policy changes in this area, that prolong the gender inequality in State Pension provision, cannot be justified.

Females: State Retirement Pensions

Mary Glindon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues on the effect of the increase in the state pension age on women.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Ministers regularly discuss matters of policy that span their responsibilities.Reasonable mitigation for those worst affected by changes in State Pension age was introduced in 2011. A concession was made prior to the passing of the 2011 Act which reduced the delay that anyone would experience in claiming their State Pension, relative to the previous timetable, to 18 months. This concession was worth £1.1 billion in total.This Government is committed to better outcomes for pensioners. However, the several billions of pounds that it would cost to make further policy changes in this area, that prolong the gender inequality in State Pension provision, cannot be justified.

Females: Education

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to raise girls' aspirations in schools.

Nicky Morgan: We are determined to tackle gender inequality at its root so that every child can fulfill their potential. Too often girls’ success at school is not reflected in the workplace.In my role as Education Secretary, I’ve strengthened links between schools and employers. That’s why we are backing the inspirational Your Life scheme and why we published the Your Daughter’s Future Guide.I am also encouraging schools to focus on character skills, as well as attainment, including a £5m investment in character education.

Racial Discrimination

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle race inequality.

James Wharton: The Prime Minister outlined his 2020 vision last Spring, which set out challenging Government targets across Whitehall to increase BAME opportunities, including take-up of apprenticeships, employment, and recruitment in the police and armed forces.On 26 October many of the country’s top employers, including the Civil Service, committed to ‘name blind’ recruitment processes.

Females: Apprentices

Amanda Milling: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of women taking up apprenticeships.

Joseph Johnson: Women made up over 50% of apprenticeship starts in England over the past 4 years, just as they make up more than half of people entering higher education.We want to make apprenticeships accessible to the widest possible range of people, as part of meeting our commitment to reach 3 million starts by 2020.To increase apprenticeship starts, the Enterprise Bill will set targets for public bodies to employ apprentices. We have amended procurement rules to demonstrate a clear commitment to apprenticeships.

Equality

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to reduce gender economic inequality.

Nicky Morgan: You cannot have true opportunity without real equality. Achieving gender equality isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s vital for our economy. We cannot afford to waste the skills of a single person, let alone half our population.The Government wants to support all women to fulfil their potential and progress in work. One of the greatest issues affecting both women AND men is childcare. That is why we are doubling the amount of free childcare available to working parents and introduced flexible working and shared parental leave.